botanical beauty
Greetings from the Big Island of Hawai’i. I’ve been here exactly a week and have been loving every minute of my tropical trip. From swimming with sea turtles to discovering delicious Kona coffee shops, there’s never been a dull moment. Staying in a house right on the beach in Puako is the most invigorating part; surrounded by lava rock and rolling dry-grass hills, the view of the ocean keeps your mind refreshed, relaxed, and optimistic. There’s really nothing like traversing the big blue in search for colorful fish or getting caught in a sudden rainstorm at ‘Akaka Falls. I’ve never had a Hawai’i experience quite like this, and it won’t be one I’ll soon forget.
But, to the point. Nature never ceases to amaze me. A couple of days ago, we visited the Hawai’i Tropical Botanical Garden in Onomea Valley, and I was shocked by the rare beauty of the flowers and plants within: stark contrasts in color, intense reds, neon pinks, corals, and fuchsias, lush greens, perfectly patterned leaves, delicate ombré stems, buttery leathery textures, tie-dye burnout effects, Rorschach orchids and brush stroked-petals… it goes on and on. And as we trudged through the contained jungle, the only thing that was going through my head was how I could translate the greenery and floral wonders into sartorial statements.
Now, I’m no fashion designer—sewing does not come easily to me and I’m always improving on my less than anatomically correct and strangely clad sketches—but when inspiration hits you, it’s like a train going at full force. Between catching up on the latest issues of Elle and Nylon and admiring all that this island has to offer, I’ve soaked up so much creative fuel that I hardly know what to do with myself. With dreams of a magazine, boutique, fashion and textiles line, and jewelry collection in my mind, I feel like I’m going to burst if I don’t put something into motion. I can’t wait to get back home and just create, just make something.
So without further ado, a multitude (40+!) of life-affirming photos await…
